JAINA Convention 2007 07 NJ Edison Program Guide

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 44

ARVIND BHANDARI Shri Arvind Bhandari takes special interest in teaching and promoting Jainism to the youth. He has taught Pathshala classes at Jain Center of New Jersey from 1986 to 2000 and has given special lectures to youth during Paryushana. He has authored and directed several plays at NJ and NY Jain centers, as well as past JAINA conventions. He has been guest speaker and conducted swadhyays and seminars, performed Poojas at various Jain centers across the US. He is one of the founding members of Jain Center of NJ and continues to play key role in supporting various activities at the center.
ASHWINI PRAGYAJI Greatly influenced by Acharya Shree Mahapragya's teachings. He started his holistic journey in 1992 from his birthplace, Surat, by taking Sanyas, when he attended Acharya Mahapragya's Preksha Meditation camp. Widely traveled to different countries around the world and in India, spreading the message of Jainism as well as Preksha Dhyana. Very capable and influential orator. Conducts lectures in a simple and practical language while maintaining a personal touch with humor to make it very interesting. He is energetic and is committed to spread the knowledge of Jainism, Preksha Dhyana, Indian Culture and Values with special references to Western Philosophy. Coordinated thousands of training camps & workshops in schools, colleges, universities, NGO'S, UNESCO, World Region parliament seminar, public places. He has also conducted Jainism and Preksha Dhyana discourses for various Hindus, Muslims, Christian, Jain, Buddha, Zeus's religious organization. Organized Training & Yoga camps for prisoners in jail, military camps, police personnel, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and for Indian embassies.
BHARILL HUKAMCHAND Dr. Hukamchand Bharill's name is pereminent today among the high-level learned persons of Jain community. Dr Bharill, after having received the degrees of Shastri, Nyayatirtha, Sahityaratna and M.A. made a research on the subject of 'Pandit 'Todarmal : Vyaktittv Aur Kartrittv' and got the degree of Ph.D. from Indore University. The Jain community has also from time awarded him degrees of 'Vidyavachaspati', Paramagam Visharad", "Tattvevtta", Vanivbhushan, 'Jain Ratna, 'Adhyatm Shiromani', Adhyatm Divakar" 'Mahamahoupadhyaya" etc. Dr. Bharill has written 53 books with more than 4 million copies of his books, translated in eight languages, have reached to the public. He is the best decipile of Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami and has made unprecedented contribution to the spiritual revolution accomplished by Swamiji. All activities of his mission being conducted from Jaipur, are the result of Dr. Bharill,s foresightedness and unique direction.
BHATTARAKA CHARUKEERTHI Bhattaraka Charukeerthi of Moodbidri Swamiji (reverend) hails from Moodbidri, a historic town in Karnataka. He comes from a religious family that sowed the Dharmic seeds early in his childhood. Swamiji has formal degrees in Engineering and Economịcs. He had his initial religious indoctrination (Dharma Bala Bodha) at Bajagoli-Karkala and further religious lessons "Rathna KarandakaVisharada Dravya Sangraha" at Varanasi. He showed earnest interest in offering volunteer service at religious functions and showed great zeal for literature, culture and architecture. The Swamiji's staunch religious fervor and his creative activities earned him holy blessings from the Shravana Belagola Swamiji and at public request of South Kanara Jain community he was designated as the religious Head (pontift) of Sri Jain Mutt. Right from the day of his becoming the head of Jain Mutt the Swamiji kept himself busy in all kinds of religious activities, organized literary conferences and religious functions in Moodbidri and carried on the work of his predecessor and gave Moodbidri a new shape as a centre of religious activities, all kinds of art and culture. He has also promoted religious awareness and proclaimed the importance of unity in diversity In recognition of his immense knowledge in Architecture, Kolkatta Astrological University honored him by presenting the honorary award of Bharatha Bhushana in the International Astrological Conference. The "Non-Violence" organisation honored him by presenting the award of "Dharma Rathna".
BHAVIK SHAH Bhavik Shah hails from the town of Khambhat in India and intends to renounce everything and take diksha after he finishes his religious studies. Remarkably, he is only 21 years old but has already studied karma granth and has a deep interest to study every Jain topic in detail. His guruji is from Khambhat - Param Pujya Jitendra Muniji, the disciple of Pujya Kamlesh Muniji and under late Pujya Shri Kantirishiji Maharajsaheb. Bhavik comes from a very religious family. His elder sister has also taken diksha, and her name is Pujya Shitalbai Mahasatiji.
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